FARMINGTON – Maine’s state budget shortfall is taking a bite out of education funding for school districts statewide, including SAD 9.

At Tuesday’s Board of Directors meeting, Superintendent Michael Cormier explained that while the funding loss for the district was not as severe as originally thought, it was still cause for spending as efficiently as possible. The proposed budget curtailment to SAD 9 is $220,000.

“My bottom line is retaining services for children, keeping services we have as much as possible, and keeping people employed,” Cormier said.

He added that he didn’t see, at this time, having to eliminate positions within the district. Several weeks ago, Cormier put a freeze on buying supplies, except for those applying to health and safety, building maintenance and emergencies.

Heat has been reduced from 70 degrees to 68 degrees in school buildings, the minimum allowable by state law. Conferences and workshops have also been trimmed, unless they are already budgeted.

In other matters, Mt. Blue High School Student Council advisor and physics teacher Jacob Bogar explained the interest that some high school students have in serving as nonvoting members on the Board of Directors. He noted that at least 10 school boards in Maine have reported that they now have students serving.

“The idea is to encourage participation in students who come to the school,” said Bogar.

Director William Reid said that he was concerned about the length of terms for students, and suggested that at least some of them start serving as sophomores if the proposal is approved after discussion in the policy committee.

“I think it’s so valuable having the students involved,” said director Claire Andrews. “I think it would increase the rapport within the district itself.”

The board voted 8-4 in favor of sending the proposal to the policy committee with a positive sentiment.

Assistant Superintendent Susan Pratt provided a school construction update for a proposed SAD 9 K-3 elementary school on the current Mallett School site. She showed the group a concept design rendering of the proposed school.

The proposed school is 99.6 percent funded by the state building bond model. “That’s quite a change from past experiences with school construction,” Pratt said.

A meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Dec. 10 at Mt. Blue High School to conduct a straw poll and discussion on a new high school and applied technology center. Cormier noted the district would like the matter to go before the State Board of Education in January for site approval.

“This is an excellent time for these projects to go forward,” he added. “Prices are beginning to go down and people are hungry for work.”

In other business, the board unanimously approved certification of the vote by district towns opposing a consolidation agreement with SAD 58, Coplin Plantation, and Highland Plantation that took place Nov. 4. An alternative plan has been submitted to the Department of Education, in which the district is required to show what cost savings it has achieved on its own over the past few years and how it will continue realizing the savings.